Cadiz

Spain's
massive naval base at Cadiz became that country's seat of
power when Madrid fell to the French.

Exceptionally
strong and built on terrain almost designed for deterring
attackers Cadiz was initially weakly defended, but quick
work by the Duke of Albequerque saved it from being given
away lightly.

The
Duke sent an army of 10,000 men to bolster the garrison
of 2000 and by the time British and Portuguese reinforcements
arrived through the port, Cadiz was a formidable obstacle
to France's plans to capture all of Spain.

Marshal
Victor was given the job of besieging the fortress,
but even with 60,000 troops at his disposal he was unable
to make much progress.

In
1812, the siege was lifted when the French learned of the
defeat at Salamanca and
feared the army would be stranded, caught between Cadiz
and approaching enemy armies.